Collapsible building



P 3, 1952 D. D. AREHART ET AL 2,611,454

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed' Sept. 20, 1946 1o Sheets-Sheet 1 4/ v I: II 1 /I I r 113' l I I 1 IN VEN TORS Sept. 23, 1952 D. D. AREHART ETAL 2,611,454

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed Sept. 20, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwawag p 1952 D. D. AREHART ET AL COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING 1o sheets-sheet 4 Filed Sept. 20, 1946 m% E N w T uh p m FM Q N h N v .Nmw M. 1 a

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COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed Sept. 20, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 P 1952 D. D. AREHART ETAL 2,611,454

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed Sept. 20, 1946 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TORS Sept. 23, 1952 I D. D. AREHART ET AL 2,611,454

. COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed Sept. 20, 1946 v 10 Sheets$heet 8 INIIIENTORS Dczmdfl [Ire/2012', BY flaZp/z K04229726 Sept 23, 1952 D. D. AREHART ET AL 2,611,454

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed Sept. 20, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Sept. 23, 1952 D. D. AREHART ET AL 2,611,454

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed Sept. 20, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS.

' Baud Z7. are/Zara %4/AWM Patented Sept. 23, 1952 COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING David D. Arehart and Ralph 'r. Dittmer, Flint, Mich., assignors to Palace Corporation, Flint, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 20, 1946, Serial N 0. 698,147

This invention relates to a new and improved collapsible building structure and more particularly to a structure of this character adapted to be erected and dismantled with a minimum of labor in a short space of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a building structure comprising a plurality of similar units which may be associated to form buildings of various sizes as desired.

It is also an object to provide units for such a building, which units are collapsible to form compact folded books or packages containing the various elements of the unit.

It is an additional object to provide a structure which may be formed mainly or entirely of metal and which is durable and will withstand repeated erection and dismantling without injury to the parts.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a collapsible roof structure in which the roof elements-and the supporting girder members are permanently connected, the truss members folding within the roof elements for shipment.

It is another object to provide a structure in which roof supporting and wall elements are detachably secured to the roof structure and may be housed within the folded roof structure for shipment. I

4 Claims. (Cl. 189-2) Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation ofone form of construction for connecting the roof girders and supporting posts;

It is also an object to provide a structure which is rigidly braced and adapted to sustain substantial roof'loads and high wind pressures.

It is an additional object to provide a building structure which may include floor elements adapted to serve as housings for theother elements when packed for shipment.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds. I We have shown certain preferred embodiments of our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a two unit assembly;

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the construction of Figure 1, a third element being partially shown;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, showing the hinge and ridge construction, the folded position being indicated in broken lines;

--Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the ridge securing and raising devices;

Figure 6 is a side view of the construction of Figure 5, showing a plurality of securing units on a reduced scale;

. Figure '7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Figure 8; 1 FigurelO is asection taken on line l0lll of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary section takenon line ll-Il of Figure 8;, p I

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section taken on line I2--I2 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a view similar to- Figure 8 showing a modified form of construction; v I

Figure 14 is a section takenon line M-l4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a view, partly in section, taken on line l5l5 of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section showing the lateral interlock of adjacent roof sections;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary section showing the means for supporting adjustable upper Wallsections or vent flaps on the posts;

Figure 18 is a face view of an upper tion and its attached adjusting means;

Figure 19, is a fragmentary section takenon line I9|9 of Figure 18, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 20 is a face view, partly broken away, of a horizontal tie bar;

Figure2l is a face view, partly broken away, of a diagonal brace bar;

Figure 22 is a side elevation of a supporting post, partly broken away;

,Figure 23 is a section, on line 23-23 of Figure.22;

Figure 24 is a section taken on .line 24 -24 of Figure 22;

Figure 25 is a side elevation for the post; v

Figure 26 is a cross section on line 2626 of Figure 25; I h v Figure 27 is a perspective view of a building section partly closed for shipment;

Figure 28 is a perspective view of the underside of a floor section;

Figure 29 is a section, on an enlargedscale and partly broken away, taken on line 29-29 of Figure 28, reversedto show the floor-portion upper most, and showing a fragmentary portion of an adjacent section; and s Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure 29, and reversed as in Figure 29, taken on line30-3fl of Figure. 28.

Referring first to the form of construction shown in Figures 1, v land 3, our improved struc ture comprises the roof sections or panels 4| wall secof an extension leg which have adjacent short or end edges hingedly connected together and girder sections 42 with their upper edges hingedly connected to the side edges of the panels and their meeting edges hinged together at 43 in the plane of the hinged connection between the roof sections. The gap at the ridge between the hinged roof sections is covered by a ridge strip 44. Posts 45 are detachably connected to the ends of the girders adjacent the roof section corners; these posts being provided with integral brace gussets 46. The posts are further provided with adjustable feet 41. The posts are connected by horizontal tie bars 48 and diagonal brace bars 50. The side walls are provided with hinged vent flaps 49. These several elements of the construction and their means and methods of assembly will be discussed in detail hereafter.

The individual roof panels 4| may be formed of any sufficiently strong and weather resisting material which is reasonably light in weight, such as plywood, compressed fibre board or sheet metal. In the drawings, Figure 4, they have been shown as comprising a smooth top sheet of metal 5| and a corrugated or rigidized sheet 52 under the top plate and contacting therewith at a multiplicity of points. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the meeting hinge edges of the panels are housed in reversely bent sheet metal members 53 provided with hooked flanges 54 coacting with packing strips 55 with the parts in the assembled position, and with the inturned edges 55 of the strip 44. As shown in Figures 8 and 17, the free outer edges of panels 4| are housed in reversely bent sheet members 51 having drip flanges 58.

The lateral edges of the panels are provided with the reversely bent housing members 59 and 60, respectively, as shown in Figure 16. Member 59 has an upturned hook flange 6| adapted to interlock with the downturned hook flange 64 on the housing member 66. The member 59 has the continuous raised bead 63 which not only stifiens the structure but acts to reduce any flow of water from the roof section into the space between sections. The upwardly inclined portion of hook flange 64 has a similar function. It will be noted, however, that the hook flange 6| serves as a gutter to carry off any water which does enter the space between sections. The housing member has a lower stiffening head 65 similar to the bead 63.

The form of hinged connection between roof sections at the ridge is shown in Figures 4 to 7, inclusive. The hinge comprises similar fixed members El secured at spaced points to the under side of the adjacent roof sections as by welding. An integral intermediate hinge member 68 is provided with an upstanding double flange portion 69, this member 68 being secured to the two fixed members 6'! by the headed pins I0. The pins I8 are held in place by cotter pins II and have extended parallel ends I2. As best shown in Figure 4, the flange 69 fits up into the ridge strip 44 when the roof sections are folded for storage or shipment.

As shown in Figures to '7, inclusive, the ridge strip 44 is held in place by a fixed tie bar I4 and a swinging tie bar I5. These tie bars I4 and I5 are located toward the lateral edges of each roof section as shown in Figure 6, a pair of bars to each room section. Each roof section has a separate ridge strip 44. The fixed tie bar I4 carries a coil spring i6, held in place on the tie bar by washer I! and pin IS. The upper end of the spring engages the under face of the adjacent hinge pins 72 to resiliently hold down the ridge strip. When the parts are folded for storage or shipment, the tie bars I4 and I5 assume the position shown in broken lines in Figure 4. The swinging tie bar I5 carries the tubular handle I9 which houses spring 80, held in compression by pin 8| which extends through member I5 against the inturned upper edge flange of the handle I9. With the ridge strip 44 in its lower position, which is practically water and air tight, the parts are as shown in full lines in Figure 6 with the upper end of the handle 19 under the adjacent extended ends I2 of th hinge pins. When it is desired to open the strip 44 for ventilation, the tie bar I5 is swung out to the broken line positionand raised to seat the pin 82 on the upper face of the hinge pin ends "I2. The ridge strip sections 44 are offset at one end, as shown at 83 of Figur 6, so as to overlap an adjacent ridge strip when several units are set up end to end. When in the open position the ridge strips 44 are inclined upwardly, as indicated in broken lines at the left of Figure 6. the spring I5 being partially compressed and holding the strips 44 firmly in position.

One form of construction for securing the posts 45 to the roof girder 42 is shown in Figures 8 to 12, inclusive. The lower meeting edges of the girders 4-2 are connected by the hinges 84, shown in broken lines in Figure2. The roof girders are connected to the lateral edges of the roof sections by hinges 85. One post 45 is designed to be secured to and support the girders of two adjacent sections, although the same post construction will engage and support a single girder at the end of a finished structure.

The upper end 85 of th post 45 is open and extends above the top of the knee brace gusset 46. The open end is wide enough to receive ends of two girders 42. The top of gusset 46 carries a horizontal flange 01, as best shown in Figure 9, on which the girder rests. The locking hooks 88 are hinged to the top of gusset 46 immediately below the flange 81, one being shown in packed position, in broken lines, and the other being shown in erected position, in full lines in Figure 8. The locking lever 89 is pivoted to the girder 42 at 80 and has a locking end SI adapted to overlie the portion 92 of the hook 88. A slider 93 carries a spring 94 which holds a locking pin 95 in a slot in the member 85. The pin 95 is provided with a finger piece 96 by means of which it may be lifted against the resistance of the spring. When erected, the pin 95 fits in a selected opening of th series of openings 91 in the plate '98 secured to gusset 46. The assembled position of lever 89 is shown in broken lines in Figure 8.

Another forms of construction for accomplishing this purpose is shown in Figures 13 to 15, inclusive. Here the post 45 is constructed in the same manner as in the prior construction and gusset 45 is also the same. The top of the gusset 46, however, carries a cap strip IOI having lateral flanges I02 to receive the girder webs and depending flanges I03 which embrace the top edge of the gusset 45. The swinging locking flaps I84 are pivoted at I05 below flanges I02. Each flap I04 carries a latch I06 pivoted to the flap at IN, the latch having a locking lug I08 normally urged to locking position by spring I09. Additional latch members III) and III are pivoted to flanges I03 at points II 2 and H3, respectively, as shown in Figure 13. These latches II 0 and 'III are provided with springs H4 and H5 and finger pieces H6 and H1, respectively. The latches H0 and III hook over portions of fiange I I8 on the lower edge of the girder 42, this flange being shown in Figures 13 to 15 and being notched or cut away to receive the latches H0 and I I I, as shown in Figure 13.

The post construction, and particularly the lower portion thereof, is shown in Figures 22 to 26, inclusive. The tubular leg 45 is provided with slots I20, as shown in Figures 22 and 23, to receive'the transverse brace members 48, which willbe described hereafter. It is also provided with holes I51 to receive the adjustable arms for raising the vent flaps or wall sections 49. The solid adjustable foot member I 2| is fitted within the tubular post 45. Member I2I has an elongated foot or hearing portion I22 which is shown as having a hole I23 formed therein to receive a tent pin to secure the foot in place upon the ground. The slot I24 extends the major portion of the length of the foot member I22 and has the reversely directed racks I25 and I26 extending along the walls of its upper portion. The rocking ratchet member I21 is pivoted at I28 in a U-shaped member I34 carried by the adjusting screw I29. This screw is supported in a threadedblock I30 secured to the post 45 by the pins I3I. The finger piece I32 is connected to1the ratchet member I21 so that it may be rocked to release its ratchet fingers from the racks; It will be understood that the foot member I2I is assembled with leg 45 by being slipped upwardly into it before the ratchet I21 and its supporting and manipulating parts are assembled upon theleg, these being assembled in the slot I24 and between the racks I25 and. I26. post 45 is also provided with the split stud I33 to receive the lower end of the diagonal brace member 50. V The transverse brace member 48 is shown in detail in Figure 20. The member is positioned at substantially the height of the slots I20 formed in post 45 and its ends are provided with hooks I35 and I36 adapted to fit in the slots. The slide guide I40 is secured to one end of member 48 adjacent the .hook I35 and holds the slide I31 actuated by finger piece I38. This slide I31 is retracted when placing hook I35 into slot I20 and when thrust to the position of Figure 20, locks the hook in the slot. The end of slide I31 is sufficiently long so that it also locks in place the hook I36 of an adjacent member 48 when that is fitted into the same post. The diagonal brace, shown in detail in Figure 2| is permanently pivoted to member 48 at I39. As shown in Figure 21, member is provided with a key hole slot I4I which is fitted over the split stud I33 on post 45. It is fitted over the stud before member 48 is moved to position, after which the diagonal position of member 50 prevents the slot from clearing the stud and retains the member in place.

The structure has been shown as provided with vent flaps or swinging upper wall members 49 at each side of the building section. These are shown in detail in Figures 18 and 19. The vent flaps comprise a rectangular body. preferably formed of metal, though they may be formed of any weather resistant sheet material.

As shown in detail in Figure 19, the body has an upper, outwardly inclined section I44, with the edges bent inwardly and reversely bent, as shown at I 45. The remainder of the edge of the flap is formed in a similar manner and the body of The the flap may be corrugated for 'stifiness asin dicated at I46 of Figure'lS. The members '48 are provided at each side with pivoted supporting brackets I41, connected to the body by-hinges I48 in such manner that they may be swung at right angles to the'member when, in use or parallel with the member for storageor shipment. The hinge I48 has the spring I49 fitted on the hinge pin to frictionally hold the bra'cketin the position on pivot pin I5I towhich it maybe moved. The bracket I41 has thehole I50 formed therein to fit over the pivot pin I5I on the fixed bracket I52 carried by the post 45. I

Thevent flap 49 is provided at each end with a supporting arm I53, pivotedly secured to the rear face of the flap at I54. These arms ;'I 53 are provided with spaced lugs I 55 and I 56adapted to fit in any one of holes'l51 in the post-45 to maintain the vent flap in opened orventilating positions.

The units may be folded into a book forshipment with the posts 45 and vent flaps 49"contained therein. A partially closed unit is shown in perspective in Figure 27. The girder members 42 foldinwardly against the inner faceiof'the roof; sections, as shownin the drawing. The roof posts 45 are placed within the roof sections as are the vent fiaps' '49. The diagonal'bra'ces 50 are folded parallel to the transverselbrace's.

48 and the brace assembly'for each bay may he slipped into the tubular post through its'upper end.- A covering for the lower wall "portion, formed of canvas or other'fiexible materialjinay be folded and placed within the book at the space indicated by I60 in Figure 27.

Thus, it will be seen that each unit is fully self contained and forms a compact'assembly for shipment and storage. It will beunderstood that two additional posts are neededto' completea building structure, and these may be packed separately. If the ends'of thebu'ilding are to be closed, these end 'closuresmust be shipped separately. These maybe of canvas or-othei flexible'material and may be secured in place in any desire'd manner. For example, they may be hooked in holes Iprovi'ded in girder menu-- bers at the ends of'the structure.

In some cases, it may be desired to provide a floor for the building structure, and we have shown such a fioor in Figures 28 to 30, inclusive. This floor is designed so that two fioor sections fully cover the area of a single sectional unit of the building. These two floor sections are so constructed that they 'form a case or box to enclose the building unit for shipment or storage.

The floor surface I6I preferably comprises a single sheet of material such as plywood or dense fibre board, though it may be formed of metal or other material if desired. The floor surface I 6| is bound and supported by side members I62 and I 63 and end members I64 and I65 and is further supported by V-shaped cross braces I66. The side member I62 of N-shaped, having a downwardly extending flange I '61 and a V-shaped rib I68. The side member I63 is of the full depth of the floor support and has a V groove I69 to receive the V rim I68 of the adjacent section when fioor sections are placed parallel, as shown in Figure 30. The member I63 also has a fiat ground engaging flange I10. This flange also serves to hold a facing unit in place when the fioor sections are used to enclose a book or building unit for shipment or storage. This is indi- 7 cated in broken lines in Figure 30, the building structure book being indicated at I 1 I The end member I64 is generally channel shaped, as shown in Figure 29, with a ground engaging flange I'I2. This flange I72 also serves to enclose the opposite end member I65 of the associated floor section and particularly the flange I73 when the parts are assembled for storage or shipment. The web of member I65 is provided with a tongue I74 extending half its length and a groove I15 extending for the remainder of its length to form an interlock when the floor sections are placed end-to end. Thus, all floor sections are interlocking and mutually supporting to form acontinuous and smooth floor. a

While we have shown certain preferred embodiments of our invention, they are to be understood to be illustrative only, as it is capable of variation and change to meet differing conditions and requirements, and we contemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. y

We claim: v i 1. In a collapsible building structure, a pair of roof sections hingedly connected together at an end of each section, and a roof girder structure hingedly connected to a lateral edge of the connected roof sections, said girder structure comprising two sections, one hinged to each. roof section, said girder sections being hingedly connected together in substantially the same plane as the roof sections whereby the girder sections may be folded against the under face of the roof sections as the roof sections are folded together, the hinge serving as a connector under tension when the members are in erected position.

2. Ina collapsible building structure, a pair of roof sections hingedly connected together at an'end of each section, thehinged connection providing a space between the sections, aseparate'ridge member and adjustable resilient securing means for said-member, said securing means being connected to the ridge member and selectively engaging the roof hinge structure to draw the ridge resiliently against the roof or support the ridge clear of the. roof.

a 3. Ina collapsible building structure, roof sections foldable together to form a flat book, girder sections hinged to the roof sections adjacent their lateral edges and foldable inwardly between said sections, and detachable posts for supporting the roof sections, said posts fitting within the folded roof sections between the girder sections f or shipment.

4. In a collapsible building structure, roof sections foldable together to form a fiat book, girder sections hinged to the roof sections adjacent their lateral edges and foldable inwardly between said sections, detachable wall sections and detacha-ble posts for supporting the roof sections, saidv wall sections and posts fitting within the folded roof sections between the girder sections for shipment.

. Y DAVID D. AREHART. RALPH T. DI'I'IMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 414,976 Harvey Nov. 12, 1889 1,170,188 Rasmussen et al. Feb. 1, 1916 1,172,355 Guest et al Feb. 22, 1916 1,532,695 I-Iarting et al. Apr. 7, 1925 1,567,388 Rohne Dec. 29, 1925 1,581,180 Csajaghy et al. Apr. 20, 1926 1,614,496 Scott Jan. 18, 1927 1,738,854 Thies Dec. 10, 1929 1,793,188 Noerenberg Feb. 17, 1931 1,808,082 Thompson June 2, 1931 2,088,320 De Vries July 27, 1937 2,181,831 McLaughlin, Jr. Nov. 28, 1939 2,325,747 Dailey Aug. 3, 1943 2,343,909 Kroier Mar, 14, 1944 2,386,077 Van Norman Oct. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 118,275 Great Britain 1918 525,958 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1940 

